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Sometimes I think Boulder, CO gets a bad wrap….people think it’s full of liberals, trustafarians, and hard ass rules like “no sofas allowed on your front porch.” All of these things are true, but if you venture to this cool, funky college town without having a good time – we need to talk.

Pearl Street (Pearl) is one of the main shopping and dining areas in this city of ~100,000. I am unsure of how many (if any) of the ~30,000 college students at Colorado University (CU) are included in the population count. As a side note – It kills me when I see freshman students in a Sushi restaurant. Good lord, all I could afford in college was a $2.00 burger and fries combo at the Dixie Chicken and if I was lucky, a sliver of beef jerky.

If you find yourself in Boulder on a weekend, and I highly recommend you do, spend a luxurious night at the St Julien, a modern hotel with great views of the famous Flatirons if you get the right room. Not to mention, it is located just a steps away from Pearl.

After you rise and shine, head to the West end of Pearl for breakfast at Spruce Confections where they serve up some tasty mouth watering scratch-made muffins, scones, croissants, danishes, etc. There is a little open courtyard next to the main storefront where they occasionally have live Jazz music in the summer to help kick start the day. Bring your pooch if little Fifi or Daisy has separation anxiety.

Plan on spending the rest of your day slowly meandering up and down Pearl where you will find a plethora of shops and restaurants. Shops typically open at 10:00 am on Saturday and 11:00 on Sunday so plan accordingly.

I have SO many favorites it is hard to narrow them down but I managed to list a few. Note, these are all locally owned shops, but certainly there are chains such as Chipotle, Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory, etc.

Shopping: Women’s

Knit Wit – If you are looking for one of a kind pieces, this is the place to go. Keep in mind, the owners do really well so they have the option of closing on Sundays. This small, quaint store is slightly off the beaten path on Broadway.

Outdoor Divas – Those obsessed with outdoor gear and clothing will greatly appreciate this little gem. You will find modern mountain chick options that will have you feeling cute and charming whilst traipsing about the outdoors.

Holiday & Company – Looking for affordable, chic clothing? Look no further than H&C. I don’t always find something to buy here, but when I do, I am happy as a clam as the quality is good and the price is right.

Shopping: Specialty

University Cycles – This bicycle shop has 100’s of bikes for sale from cruisers to high-end road bikes. If you are looking to rent bikes, shop for a new jersey or buy the perfect sumo wrestler bell, this is the place to go. (I personally go in to drool all over the cruisers.)

Peppercorn – If you are a self described gourmand, Peppercorn will have your head spinning. This store has everything you need to whip up a special meal and then serve it up on a gorgeous platter.

Boulder Bookstore – Avid readers will find a wide selection of books, many of which are used. It’s cozy atmosphere and book organization makes it WAY more interesting than Barnes and Noble.

Art & Soul – Art enthusiasts and jewelry aficionados will love this store full of high-end art and bright, shiny objects to pine over. If you are familiar with Anne Sportun and Me & Ro, you understand my obsession.

Restaurants:

Pasta Jays – YUM. This great little home-town Italian joint, has open air seating and serves up some pretty good pasta and pizza. If you dig garlic, I would suggest the House Salad – the dressing is to die for – make sure your partner orders one as well, else there will be no kissing for about 24 hours.

Frasca – This is a MUST try if you are celebrating a special occasion or have $100 bills flowing freely as it is quite expensive. Frasca is an award winning Italian restaurant on the East end of Pearl. The food here is some of the best in Colorado and the reservation list shows. It can be difficult to get in, so call way in advance or plan on an early dinner.

The Rio Grande (the Rio) – Admittedly, Colorado is not known for it’s Mexican food, but the Rio delivers some pretty good Tex-Mex. My favorite things about the Rio are the margaritas and the roof top patio. They have water misters to keep you cool on a hot summer day and the views of the Flatirons are fabulous. I always feel as though I am on vacation when I am hangin’ at the Rio.

Best Place to grab a cuppa Joe:

The Cup Espresso Cafe (The Cup) – This cool little East end coffee shop prides itself on serving Fair Trade, Organic coffee, homemade pastries and coffee cakes and other snacks like salads and sandwiches. It makes for a nice break before you head back West to the St. Julien.

In case what I described above does not resonate with you, never fear. An excellent website that provides more information on other stuff you may find interesting is Boulder Downtown. I always love my days spent on Pearl in Boulder, CO and I hope you do as well.

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When I was 17 years old, I took a road trip down the California coast with my best friend’s family. It was the first time I had experienced a road trip not jammed in the back of a Stay-Wag with 3 older siblings torturing me along the way or a car full of cigarette smoke with the windows rolled up – it was actually an enjoyable experience.

We started in San Francisco and made it all the way down to Redondo Beach outside of Los Angeles. One of our pit-stops along the way was Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA which is located 120 miles South of San Francisco. In 1982, I remember feeling as though Carmel was one of the most beautiful places in the world. We happened to pass by the Tickle Pink Inn which is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean. I swear it was pink at the time and I remember thinking – “It would be really killer to stay there some day.”

Fast forward 30 years later and Greg and I are on a road-trip passing through Carmel via Big Sur. I did some research on hotels via Trip Advisor and found that the Tickle Pink Inn is ranked the #1 spot to stay in the Carmel area. (You have to get over the name, it really is a beautiful place.) I quickly got on the phone with the hotel and reserved a room for the night – with an ocean view – happy early birthday to me. And by the way, If you have never been to Big Sur, it is incredible and a must see.

This boutique hotel is a great buy. It is somewhat expensive i.e, $250 + range but, you get all sorts of free stuff and free stuff = good stuff. There is an excellent wine and cheese reception that is really nice AND, you are presented with a complimentary bottle of champagne when you check in. The risk here is that you get so loaded you can’t drive to dinner and they don’t have a restaurant on site. Continental breakfast is included in the rate. The breakfast is a little on the cheap side with what appears to be a bit of Costco ilk, however, it is free and they will deliver to your room.

Key Tip: Request a room with an ocean view and a private balcony. You will be completely fulfilled waking up to the sight and sound of waves crashing along the shore line. This means paying a little more, but it is worth it. Beware of overly healthy seagulls attempting to infiltrate your room if you leave the sliding glass door open too long.

If you feel the need to get out and burn some calories while you are in Carmel, check out the Point Lobos Reserve www.pointlobos.org. If you follow the North Shore hike, you are guaranteed to spot some gorgeous harbor seals lounging around on the rocks along the coastline. Look closely as they sometimes blend in with the colors and patterns of the rocks. If you are over 40 and have younger kids with you, have them spot those wonderful creatures. These trails are great for trail running if hiking is too tame for you. Also, you can get a nice 1 mile run/walk on the beach which you can easily access via Ocean Avenue in downtown Carmel. If you are into golf, you will have a nice view of Pebble Beach.

Boutique shopping in Carmel can be quite fruitful. I found some amazing Frye boots (my new faves) at Lloyd’s shoes – they also have brands like Stuart Weitzman and Tom’s. Paloosh next door had some great stuff and carries brands like Ella Moss, Joie, and Splendid. They get a bad wrap on Yelp because of customer service, but I had a great experience. Girl Boy Girl (GBG) is another upscale boutique that may be considered one level up on the cost scale from Paloosh. They sell brands like Haute Hippie, Rebecca Taylor, and Trina Turk.

As far as restaurants are concerned, if you are into Sushi, we found Sushi Heaven to be a great value and of excellent quality. The Carmel Valley Roasting Company is great for a cup of coffee, and the quaint La Bicyclette Restaurant was excellent for dinner www.labicycletterestaurant.com. The menu changes nightly and the food is crafted with fresh local, organic ingredients, much of which is supplied by a local Middle School.

Carmel, is still a gorgeous place and will always hold a special place in my heart. All I have to say is THANKS to Raleigh and Judy for unknowingly introducing me to the life bus in 1982!